Katana
Katana is a cloud-based manufacturing enterprise resource planning software that gives you real-time visibility into inventory, production, and sales to streamline your entire small-to-medium manufacturing business operations.
Skybill Utility Billing
Skybill Utility Billing is a comprehensive cloud-based platform designed to help utility companies automate meter reading, invoicing, and customer management for water, electricity, gas, and heating services.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Katana | Skybill Utility Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Website | katanamrp.com | skybill.eu |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $179/month | $110/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2017 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | Riga, Latvia |
Overview
Katana
Katana gives you a live look at your entire manufacturing business by unifying your sales, inventory, and production workflows. Instead of juggling messy spreadsheets, you get a visual interface that automatically prioritizes orders based on material availability. You can track raw materials and finished goods in real-time, ensuring you never overstock or run out of essential components during a production run.
The platform is designed specifically for scaling manufacturers who need to move beyond basic accounting tools. You can easily sync your shop floor with your online store, manage outsourced production, and calculate accurate product costs automatically. It helps you eliminate production bottlenecks and fulfill customer orders faster by providing a single source of truth for your entire team.
Skybill Utility Billing
Skybill Utility Billing provides a centralized platform to manage your entire utility operation from meter to cash. Built on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central framework, it allows you to automate complex billing cycles for water, electricity, gas, and thermal energy. You can easily track consumption, manage diverse tariffs, and generate accurate invoices for residential or commercial clients without manual data entry errors.
The software simplifies your daily operations by integrating meter data management with a robust customer portal. You can empower your customers to report readings, view historical consumption, and pay bills online. Whether you are a small private utility provider or a large municipality, the platform scales to handle your growing subscriber base while ensuring financial compliance and transparent reporting.
Overview
Katana Features
- Live Inventory Management Track your raw materials and finished products in real-time to maintain optimal stock levels and prevent production delays.
- Master Production Scheduling Drag and drop your manufacturing orders to prioritize jobs and see how changes impact your material requirements instantly.
- Omnichannel Sales Sync Connect your e-commerce stores and marketplaces to centralize all your sales orders and inventory levels in one place.
- Contract Manufacturing Manage your outsourced production processes by tracking purchase orders and inventory levels at your partner locations seamlessly.
- Shop Floor App Give your operators a digital task list on their mobile devices to track time and material consumption accurately.
- Automated Costing Calculate your precise manufacturing costs based on your bill of materials and production operations without manual calculations.
Skybill Utility Billing Features
- Automated Invoicing. Generate thousands of accurate utility bills in minutes based on real-time meter readings and custom tariff structures.
- Meter Data Management. Track physical meter locations, maintenance history, and replacement schedules while importing readings from smart or manual devices.
- Self-Service Portal. Provide your customers with a dedicated web portal where they can submit readings, download invoices, and make payments.
- Debt Management. Automate your collection process with scheduled reminders, late fee calculations, and service disconnection notices for overdue accounts.
- Flexible Tariff Engine. Configure complex pricing models including tiered rates, seasonal adjustments, and fixed service fees to match your regulatory requirements.
- Financial Integration. Sync your billing data directly with Microsoft Dynamics 365 to maintain a single source of truth for your accounting.
Pricing Comparison
Katana Pricing
- Up to 3 users
- 1 inventory location
- Real-time inventory tracking
- Sales order management
- Basic production planning
- E-commerce integrations
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Unlimited inventory locations
- Shop Floor mobile app
- Batch and lot tracking
- Multi-currency support
- Full API access
Skybill Utility Billing Pricing
- Up to 500 active assets
- Meter reading management
- Automated billing engine
- Standard reporting tools
- Email invoice delivery
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Up to 2,000 active assets
- Customer self-service portal
- Advanced debt collection
- API access for integrations
Pros & Cons
Katana
Pros
- Intuitive visual interface is easy to navigate
- Seamless integration with Shopify and QuickBooks Online
- Real-time material availability tracking saves significant time
- Excellent customer support and onboarding resources
Cons
- Starting price is high for very small businesses
- Mobile app functionality is limited for administrators
- Advanced reporting requires higher-tier paid plans
Skybill Utility Billing
Pros
- Seamless integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 ecosystem
- Highly flexible tariff configuration for complex billing
- User-friendly customer portal reduces support call volume
- Automated workflows significantly reduce manual billing errors
Cons
- Initial setup requires significant configuration of tariffs
- Requires Microsoft Business Central knowledge for advanced use
- Pricing can scale quickly for very large municipalities